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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

When I played high school football,
games were always played on Fridays. To prepare for our opponent, our coaches
would spend the better part of the Monday going through what was called,
"walk and talk." Instead of running sprints and bashing into each other
on the practice field, we'd discuss our opponents, similar to how a scholar
would discuss philosophy or physics.

To lead the discussion, our
assistant head coach always began with a quote. They were different each week.
This one has always resonated with me:

"The man who knows how
will always have a job. The man who knows why will always be his
boss."

I'm not sure if Ralph Waldo Emerson
played football, or even knew how to strap on a helmet, but his words speak
beyond the gridiron.

Coincidentally, it speaks directly
to how and why a reporter and/or journalist needs to edit his or her attire
before conducting an in-person interview.

(Well, it doesn't really. This post
is just about editing your wardrobe before conducting in-person interviews for articles
and stories. I just wanted to use the quote. It's my blog and I can do what I
want. But you get it, right?)

Here are some examples, complete with
images, on how a journalist, or anyone conducting an in-person interview, should edit
their attire.

(Sorry ladies, this post is male
centric. Women always look good anyway. It's the guys who just need a little
help.)

1. You need to dress the part.

People have an image of what a reporter,
newscaster, or journalist should look like. Don't distort that by showing up to
an interview dressed like you were Tom Hank's body double in Castaway.
Your interview subject -whether it's a VIP, or a random from off the street- is
your guest. Treat their eyes with respect.

As a journalist, you can't go wrong with a simple tie, blazer, and dress pants

2. But don't overwhelm with your
attire.

You want to look a professional
journalist, not a professional wedding singer. Instead of wearing your best
suit, go the business causal route. Important tip: make sure your clothes, at the very least, are free of stains, rips, and holes.

3. Bathe.

Be sure to hit the shower before the
interview. Enough said.

4. If you have to think about it,
you still don't have it right.

This is the case for most things. You know when you know.
If you have to think twice about wearing a pair of warn,
cut-off-at-the-upper-hip jeans out to an interview, trust your snap judgment,
and just don't wear them. Better yet, do yourself a favor and throw them away.
No, actually, burn them to a denim crisp. You'll be doing the world a favor.

Whoa

5. Tic-Tac, Sir?Thinking about eating a
Spicy Italian Subway sandwich, topped with extra onions and peppers, before the
interview? Please, for the love of all things holy, think again. This should be
a top the list. I may be going out on a limb here, but I'd say most people
don't like unpleasant surprises. There's nothing worse than being fooled by
someone who looks the part. If your breath smells like neon green gas should be
emitting from your mouth, not a lot of people will want to spend more than two
seconds with you.

(If you must eat bad breath inducing
foods, or just naturally have bad breath (sorry, that sounds harsh, but
according to a recent FDA study, 25 per cent of Americans have some form of
Halitosis), then make sure to have a fresh supply of mints with you at all
times. Gum isn't as good an option, because it's rude to be chopping on a stick
of Trident while someone’s talking to you.)

6. Ease off the Cologne.

You want to be remembered for your fair and balanced
reporting, not your tang. Instead of baptizing yourself in a pool of your
finest fragrances, go scentless. A lot of people can be turned off by strong
scents, or might even have some serious scent allergies. Don't take the risk.
Follow step 3, and all should be good.